Protective headgear



l Nov. 14, 1933i. 1 B. DYM 1,935,204

PROTECTI VE HEADGEAR Filed OC.. 21, 1932 l INVENTOR Patented Nov. 14,1933 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 21, 1932. SerialN0. 638,904

Claims.

My invention relates to protective headgear such as employed by minersand others engaged in hazardous occupations, and it relates particularlyto linings for such headgear. 5 When protective headgear is worn, thematerial of which the crown and other portions of the headgear are madeis usually relatively heavy in order that the headgear may besuilciently rigid to withstand shocks or blows. Unless special Vmeansare employed to transmit the pressure caused by the weight of theheadgear to the head of the wearer, the latter may suffer considerableinconvenience because of the manner in which this weight is transmitted.

Furthermore, since the material of which protective headgear isconstructed is usually substantially air-tight, additional inconveniencemay be experienced by reason of the lack of ventilation. In addition tothe features of inconvenience referred to above, it is very essentialthat any shocks or blows that may be exerted upon the headgear betransmitted to the h'ead of the wearer with such distributed effect thatdanger of injury is minimized.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide an improved liningfor protective capsor helmets vcomposed of relatively rigid materials,such as treated synthetic resins or phenolic condensation products thatare reinforced byduck or other suitable material. For. example, suchcaps may be similar to that shown and described in Punton Patent No.1,875,413 and the helmets may be such as that shown and described inLewis cushioned connection to the crown andalso' aords ventilationtherebetween for circulation of air through openings provided in theupper 40 portion of the crown. l

. In order to distribute the.effects of shocks or blows to which the capmay be subjected, I provide a cradle composed of bands of 'flexiblematerial connected by loops at their tops to form an enclosure that willspace the head of the wearer from the top of the crown, and which willalso effectively distribute any shocks or` blows or pressure to allportions ofthe head of the wearer with which the several portions of thebands are in engagement. y The details of my invention will be describedin connection` with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side-view in elevation of a cap l provided with linings constructed in'`accordance .55' with my invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view the lineof its lower edge if the spacing members small'number of varying lengthsof approxiof the cap of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged verticalsectional` View of a portion of the cap of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlargedperspective view of a portion of the" band of the lining and certain ofits associated parts; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 6o 3 showingthe relative positions of certain parts when the cap is upon a wearer'shead.

Referring to the drawing, a cap 1 of suitable shape for use by miners orothers engaged in similar occupations comprises a crown 2 and a 65 visor3. A lamp holder 4 is provided upon the 1 front -of the cap 1 forsupporting the usual miners lamp.` The cap 1 may be constructed of anysuitable material such, for example, as a suitably treated syntheticresin or a phenolic condensation product that is reinforced by duck orother suitable fabric to constitute a substantially rigid but relativelylight article.

.A lining at the lower portion of the crown for engaging the head of thewearer consists of a continuous sweat band 6 that is preferably of thinrubber having on the inner surface thereof a thin layer of suitablematerial for engaging the head of the wearer. For example, this layer 7may consist of articial leather or similar mate- 80 rial having aslightly roughened surface such as may be secured by slight gramingthereof. The outer surface of the band 6 is provided at intervalstherearound with a series of relatively thick spacing members 8 ofsponge rubber that are of 85 inverted T-shape. The spacing members 8 maybe secured to the sweat band 6 by molding them integrally therewith orby sewing or cementing them thereto.

vThe sweat band 6 is provided at its lower edgel portion with areinforcing ring 9 that extends below the lower ends of the spacingmembers 8. 'This ring is for the purpose of providing a gradualapplication or tapering of the pressure of the band 6 to the head of thewearer when the cap 95 is in use. This feathering of the pressure avoidsthe occurrence of an abrupt application of relatively heavypressure suchas would occur along extended to the bottom of the band 6.

In order to avoid Vthe provision of a large number of lengths of sweatband 6 for various head sizes of caps it is preferred that a relativelymately half size with spacing members of varying thicknesses bemanufactured and that these be adapted for the various sizes of caps byusing different combinations or by slightly reducing the length ofcertain of these pces and connecting them together at their end portionsto constitute a continuous band of the desired size.

Certain of the spacing members 8 are provided at the lower portionsthereof withapertures 11 through which is threaded a cord 12 of suitableflexible material and which also passes through suitable apertures inthe crown 2 adjacent the lower edge thereof. The lining comprising theband 6 and its connected parts is thus detachably connected to 'thecrown 2.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the spacing members 8 are tapered vertically inorder to compensate for the aring of the side walls of the crown 2 whichare generally at an angle to the head of a wearer. The tapering of thespacing members 8 provides that opposite sides of the band 6 may besubstantially parallel and in position to conform more nearly to thehead of the wearer while the spacing members engage the sides of thecrown 2. One or more of the spacing members 8 may be removed in case ofirregularities or abnormal shape of the head of a wearer in order topermit the band 6 to conform thereto without undue pressure.

As best shown in Fig. 2 the arrangement of the spacing members 8 atintervals between the band 6 and the crown 2 provides Ventilatingopenings 13, and the cap is provided also with openings 14 which aredistributed around the crown 2 at the upper portion thereof. Air maycirculate through these communicating openings.

A cradle for the interior of the crown vcomprises a series of four bands16 of flexible material, the eight ends of which are connected directlyto the lower portion of the crown by means of the cord 12 which passesthrough certain ci the spacing members 8.

The intermediate portions of the bands 16 form four loops 17 adjacentthe top of the crown 2 and these loops are loosely connected by asuitable exible band 18, such, for example as a heavy shoestrong, inorder to form, as best shown in Flg.'2, an enclosure for the head ofthewearer that will space the crown 2 therefrom when the cap is inposition. The loose connection of the loops 17 permits the cradle toadjust itself to various shapes of heads and also to various positionsof the cap upon the head.

Any shock or blow to which the crown 2 may be subjected is transmittedto the head by the cradle with such substantially uniformly distributedeiect that no ill eiects are apt to be experienced therefrom. Thetransmission of shocks or blows does not involve the sweat band 6because of the direct connection of the bands 16 and the crown 2.

When the cap 1 is worn its weight is substantially supported by thecradle and the sweat band 6 is yieldingly pressed towards the side ofthe head. This pressure, however, is relatively light because of theresiliency of the sponge rubber of which the spacing members 8 areconstructed and the pressure is substantially uniformly distributedbecause of the tapering of the-spacing members to compensate for theangle of inclination of the sides of the crown 2. Furthermore, extensionof the sweat band 6 below the spacing members provides that the pressureexerted by the band is tapered or feathered at the lower edge whereby noinconvenience is experienced by reason of such medellin.

Ample ventilation for they cap is aiforded by f the Ventilating openingsbetween the spacing -members around the sweat band, and whichcommunicate with the openings in the of the crown.

The weight of the cap and any blows that may be transmitted thereto aretransmitted to the head by the bands of the cradle which extend in eightdirections from the cord which connects their interior loops.

The foregoing and other advantages will be appreciated by those skilledin the art of construction and employing protective headgear.

I claim:

1. In protective headgear, the combination with a crown having anoutwardly aring bottom portion, of a continuous band for the lower innerportion of said crown having integral therewith at intervals therearoundupwardly tapered spacing members of sponge rubbe for engaging said crownto resist upward movement of said band therein, and means threadedthrough apertures in certain of -said spacing members for detachablyconnecting them to said crown.

2. In protective headgear, the combination with a crown of relativelyrigid material, of a lining therefor comprising a continuous band ofliexible material having integral therewith at intervals therearoundresilient spacing members of greatest cross-sectional areal atvtheirlowerA with a crown, of a cushioning member therefor comprising anannular sweat band and resilient spacing members between said band andsaid crown and connected thereto at intervals therearound, the loweredge of the lcushioning member being more readily yieldable to pressurefrom the head than the remaining portion of said cushioning member.

4. In protective headgear, the combination with a crown of relativelyrigid material, of a cushioning member therefor comprising an annularsweat band and resilient spacing members between said band and saidcrown and connected thereto at intervals therearound, the lower edge ofthe cushioning member being more readily yieldable to pressure from thehead than other portions thereof.l

5. In protective headgear,v the combination with a crown having anoutwardly liarlng bottom portion, a band within said bottom portion forengaging the head of the wearer and tapered spacing members having theirthicker portions at the bottoms thereof between said crown and said bandfor permittingV opposite sides of said band to remain approximatelyparallel when the headgear is being worn and the spacing members are inengagement with said crown.

6. In protective headgear, the combination with a crown having anoutwardly aring bottom portion, a band within said bottom portion forengaging the head of the wearer and spacing members between said crownand said band and having tapered sides with the thicker portions at thebottoms thereof and engaging said crown to approximately compensate forthe flaring sides thereof whereby opposite 'sides of said band areapproximately parallel when the tapered sides of said spacingmembers arein engagement with said crown. 1

liti

'7. In protective headgear, the combination i of flexible material, eachof said bands being connected at its spaced ends to said crown at itslower edge and the ends of said bands being spaced around thecircumference of said crown, said bands forming loops adjacent the topof said crown,` and means for connecting said loops to cause said bandsto distribute pressure from said crown to the head of the wearer.

8. In protective headgear, a crown of relatively rigid material and acradle therefor cornprising a plurality of loops formed by bands offlexible material and having their ends connected directly to the lowerportion of said crown at points distributed therearound, .and means forloosely connecting the loops adjacent the top of said crown to ferm anenclosure of adjustable shape that is spaced from the crown when engagedby the head of the wearer.

9. In protective headgear, a crown having a sloping portion, a liningtherefor comprising a relatively thin continuous band, and relativelythick tapered spacing members for engaging the sloping portion of saidcrown and thereby separating said crown and said band at intervals toprovide Ventilating` spaces therebetween, the thicker portions of saidspacing members being adjacent the brim of the crown, and said crownhaving a plurality of apertures distributed therearound at anintermediate portion and communieating with said spaces for thecirculation of air therethrough.

10. In protective headgear, the combination with a crown of relativelyrigid material, and a lining therefor comprising a, continuous band ofrubber having an inner facing of material having a slightly roughenedsurface and having integral therewith spacing members of sponge rubberand provided with tapered sides for engaging the sides of said crown,the thicker sides of said spacing members being adjacent the brim of thecrown, and means comprising a cord threaded lthrough apertures incertain of said spacing members for securing said band in positionadjacent the bottom portion of said crown, said spacing members havingopenings therebetween and communicating with openings in said crown toprovide ventilation therethrough.

JOSEPH B. DYM.`

